Tennessee farmland preservation legislation passes Senate

The program aims to make farmland preservation financially feasible for family farms, ensuring they remain in agricultural use for future generations.

“This bill is designed to support Tennessee’s hardworking farmers,” said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin). “For many, their land has been in the family for generations, and they want to ensure it remains farmland—not a strip mall or subdivision. However, financial barriers often make preservation difficult. By providing access to the governor’s proposed grant fund, we can give farm families the resources they need to keep their land in agriculture and in the family, making conservation a realistic and economically viable option.”

While property owners can already place their land in a conservation easement through various entities, rising land prices provide little incentive to do so. The Farmland Preservation Fund aims to provide this incentive, making it more financially viable for Tennessee farmers to preserve their land.

Participation in the program is entirely voluntary, allowing property owners to receive compensation for the difference between their land’s agricultural value and its highest market value. Farmers who take part in the program would still maintain the freedom to develop their land for agricultural purposes and maintain full farming operations without restrictions on output.

Tennessee is losing farmland to development at an astounding rate. Over a 20 year period, from 1997 to 2017, Tennessee lost 1.1 million acres of farmland to development. Since 2017, another 432,941 acres of farmland has been lost. This is equivalent to Tennessee losing 9.8 acres of farmland per hour, up from 6.3 acres per hour in the previous two decades.

In Tennessee, agriculture-related industries employ 324,000 individuals and contribute $89 billion into the economy.

Check the online version of this article at www.therogersvillereview.com to see more bills that were discussed and/or approved by the TN State Senate this past week.

Legislation advances to provide clear guidelines on pesticide labels for farmers

The Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee passed Senate Bill 527 to protect farmers’ options to use safe pesticide products. It establishes that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the sole authority on pesticide product labeling. Sponsored by Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), this bill protects companies whose products are in accordance with the EPA labeling requirements.

“In 2008, the EPA clearly determined that Glyphosate is not a carcinogen and has no risks to public health when glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label,” said Senator Stevens. “Despite this determination and other repeated studies, various concerns about international liability, public health, and falsified data remain. This does not change that the EPA has labeling authority and its position that glyphosate is not a carcinogen or a risk to public health when used appropriately. Manufacturers should not have to label this product as such.”

Glyphosate, or Round Up, is just one of many chemical products affected by this legislation. Manufacturers will be responsible for ensuring their labels are reflective of the EPA’s position on this product. If they are not compliant or willfully withhold information from the EPA, they will be subject to corrective action such as lawsuits.

“These products are a tool that the farmers use and are vital to the operations,” said Carol McDonald, Department of Agriculture Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Legislation. “If that tool is not available, it puts the farmer in a hard place and limits what they can use.”

This bill aims to protect farmers’ options in the products they use. Products like glyphosate are currently being used across the state and there are no known personal injury lawsuits at this time. Senate Bill 527 is supported by Tennessee Farm Bureau, the Modern Ag Alliance, Tennessee Soybean Association, and others.

Senate Bill 527 moves to the Senate Floor.

Legislation enhances TDOT’s use of delivery methods

Building on the Transportation Modernization Act of 2023, the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee passed Senate Bill 1308 this week. Sponsored by Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and carried by Transportation Chair Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), the bill aims to improve the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT)’s use of alternative delivery methods like Design-Build (DB), Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC), and Progressive Design-Build (PDB), which have successfully delivered complex projects.

The Transportation Modernization Act of 2023 expanded these methods, such as for rebuilding bridges after Hurricane Helene. Currently, CM/GC and PDB proposals are scored independently, leading to inconsistencies.

This bill would allow collaborative scoring to improve evaluations, ensure consistency in selection, and grant TDOT the ability to use these contracts in emergency situations, similar to traditional Design-Bid-Build contracts. The bill will now move to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

In Brief…

Reducing religious discrimination - To target anti-semitism and prevent religious discrimination, the Senate State and Local Government Committee has approved Senate Bill 305. The bill prohibits religious organizations that receive state funding from denying enrollment or benefits to individuals solely on the basis of religion. Sponsored by Chairman Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), Senate Bill 305 aims to ensure access for all Tennesseans to programs and services which receive state funding regardless of religious affiliation. The bill now moves to the Senate floor for final consideration.

Briggs says this legislation aims to address an issue where a non-profit religious adoption agency refused adoption and foster care services to a Jewish couple looking to adopt, based on their religion.

Expanding Barry Brady Act - The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 288, expanding the Barry Brady Act to add diagnoses eligible to be covered under workers compensation for firefighters. Originally enacted in 2019, the Act created a presumption that certain cancers in full-time firefighters are a result of their employment and covered by worker’s compensation. It initially included Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, colon cancer, skin cancer, and multiple myeloma, later adding leukemia and testicular cancer. Sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), this bill adds prostate, breast, and pancreatic cancer to the Barry Brady Act. Senate Bill 228 moves to the Senate Floor.

The legislation is named for a retired captain of the Sparta Fire Department who passed away from cancer on April 4, 2019, at the age of 50, with over 31 years in fire service.

Financial savings for local governments - Passing Senate Bill 1315, the Senate State and Local Government Committee has taken a step to lower costs for local governments. The bill would reduce the department of revenue’s administrative fee on the local option sales tax, local occupancy tax, business tax, coal severance tax, and local tax surcharge from 1.125% to 0.75%. The change would reduce fees paid by local governments by 33%, resulting in an additional $18.9 million annually for municipalities and counties statewide. This funding boost will help local governments improve operations and achieve better budget balance. The bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and carried by Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston), will now head to the Finance Committee for further fiscal review.

Giving local governments flexibility in collecting small taxes - To provide flexibility for local governments collecting small property taxes, the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 1061 on Tuesday. Sponsored by Senator Todd Gardenhire (R-Chattanooga), this bill allows county trustees or property tax officials across the state to waive the collection of personal property taxes under $20, if authorized by local law and approved by a two-thirds majority of the local legislative body. The bill also permits officials to forgive penalties and interest for late payment. Tax officials must maintain a record of these small taxes by taxpayer account and year, and they may collect the tax in future years when other related taxes are paid. This collection is not affected by any time restriction. Senate Bill 1061 will now go to the Finance Committee for further review.

Encouraging non-opioid prescriptions - Senate Bill 428 was passed unanimously by the Commerce and Labor Committee on Tuesday. Sponsored by Senator Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro), the bill will ensure that non-opioid drugs with FDA approval are not disadvantaged compared to opioid drugs on the state preferred drug list. In an effort to combat the drug addiction crisis, Senate Bill 428 will encourage providers to prescribe safe alternatives to the traditional opioid painkillers. This bill moves to the Senate Finance Committee for further consideration.

Expanding mental health coverage - Senate Bill 437, sponsored by Senator Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro), was passed by the Senate Commerce and Labor committee. This bill requires health benefit plans that provide coverage for mental health and substance abuse services to reimburse those services through a psychiatric collaborative care model (PCCM). Senate Bill 437 aims to combat the ongoing mental health crisis in Tennessee by expanding coverage options. The bill moves to the Senate Floor.

TennCare treatment for Kleefstra syndrome - The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed Senate Bill 522, sponsored by Senator Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield), requiring TennCare coverage for Kleefstra syndrome, a rare genetic disorder with fewer than 1,000 U.S. cases, in the same way it covers autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and other related genetic conditions. This coverage could also include early intervention services aimed at improving patients’ quality of life and developmental progress. The bill now moves to the Senate floor.

Encouraging construction apprenticeships for state projects - The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 776. Sponsored by Senator Page Walley (R-Savannah), the bill encourages contractors involved in state construction projects to use apprentices undergoing training through certified and registered programs. Under the bill, contractors involved in state projects may be asked about apprentice employment in their proposals. This bill aims to support trade growth and combat the shortage of skilled workers in Tennessee. Senate Bill 776 moves to the Senate Floor.

Preserving history - The Senate State and Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 1034 this week. Sponsored by Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma), the bill designates any seal on public property that honors a historic conflict, figure, event, or entity as a memorial, granting it protection under the Tennessee Heritage Protection Act. This ensures Tennessee’s history is both recognized and safeguarded. The bill now moves to the Senate Floor for a final vote.

Reallocation of funds to support Farm to Tap program - To further support the state’s brewing agriculture industry, the Senate State and Local Government Committee passed Senate Bill 788, sponsored by Sen. Page Walley (R-Savannah). The bill reallocates an estimated $363,000 from the beer barrelage tax revenue, shifting 3% from the general fund to the Department of Agriculture to support the use of Tennessee agricultural brewing products and promote the state’s brewing industry. This creates a permanent funding mechanism for the Farm to Tap program and has no impact on taxes designated for highways, litter control, or the Department of Mental Health. The bill now heads to the Finance Committee for final consideration.

Speed limit adjustments - To improve public safety and reduce accidents, the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 954 on Wednesday. Sponsored by Senator Bill Powers (R-Clarksville), the bill grants county commissions the authority to empower the chief officer of the county highway department to set lower speed limits on county roads, provided the department has an engineer capable of conducting the necessary investigations. This bill will streamline the process of adjusting speed limits, cut red tape, and help prevent accidents. Senate Bill 954 will now head to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

Tennessee tourism is booming - The Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee reviewed the Department of Tourism Development’s budget presentation, highlighting investments in welcome centers, dining services, and the TN Sports Hall of Fame. Tourism generated over $30 billion in spending and nearly $2 billion in sales tax revenue, ranking Tennessee 11th in visitor spending nationwide. The Department emphasized efforts to expand tourism statewide through a 2024 Super Bowl ad, new flights to Nashville International Airport, and other nation-wide marketing campaigns. This budget now moves to the Senate Finance Committee.

Expanding veteran hunting access - The Senate Energy, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1140. Sponsored by Senator Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City), the bill creates temporary hunting permits for veterans. The permits are available to disabled veterans who are partaking in hunting experiences sponsored by not-for-profit organizations. The bill moves to the Senate Floor.

Expanding athletic trainers’ scope of practice - To expand the role of athletic trainers, the Senate Health and Welfare Committee has passed Senate Bill 224. Sponsored by Senator Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), the bill permits athletic trainers to perform dry needling on athletes, with the requirement of additional training. Dry needling plays a vital role in injury prevention, treatment, and management. The bill will now move to the Senate Floor for final approval.

Increasing options for charter school sponsors - The Senate Education passed Senate Bill 1310, sponsored by Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and carried by Sen. Adam Lowe (R-Athens), to create more options for quality charter school sponsors. This bill allows public colleges and universities to directly apply to sponsor a charter school and prioritize children of employees for up to 25% of enrollment. It permits sponsors to apply directly to the Tennessee Public Charter School Commission for up to five years, if a local school board has three decisions overturned by the Commission in three years. It also gives more flexibility in charter renewals, allowing renewals for 5 to 10 years instead of 10 years. Additionally, it provides an option for operators to replicate their school model and shifts some monitoring and reporting responsibilities from the Department of Education to the Charter Commission. Senate Bill 1310 will now head to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

Flexibility in educator licensing - To provide more flexibility in licensing requirements for certain courses, the Senate Education Committee passes Senate Bill 1311. Sponsored by Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) and carried by Education Chair Dawn White (R-Murfreesboro), the bill makes changes to educator licensure laws to provide more staffing flexibility for LEAs and charter schools. It creates a limited occupational teaching license, allowing skilled professionals to teach without an educator preparation program (EPP), especially for CTE instructor roles. The bill also allows teachers with a limited license or endorsement exemption to teach End-of-Course (EOC) courses and enables postsecondary-licensed teachers to add endorsements in subjects outside their postsecondary field. Additionally, it updates and clarifies language and requirements. The bill now heads to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

Equal compensation for teachers at Tennessee special schools - To ensure that teachers at Tennessee special schools receive compensation and benefits on par with other public school teachers, the Senate Education Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 705. Sponsored by Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville), this bill allows teachers at Tennessee’s special schools to accumulate and take leave like public school teachers and makes them eligible for paid family leave. It also ensures that special school teachers and licensed staff receive comparable compensation to those in the local education agency (LEA) where the special school is located. Additionally, it requires state special schools to adjust their salary schedules in line with any changes in the LEA and ensures that any state funding for salary increases, raises, bonuses, or incentives for public school staff is matched by the Department of Education for special school staff. Senate Bill 705 will now head to a vote on the Senate Floor.

Providing more time for mothers to decide to safely surrender their infant - To give mothers more time to make the life-altering decision to surrender her baby, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 206 this week. Sponsored by Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin), the bill extends the window for a facility to accept an unharmed infant without the mother facing criminal liability from 14 days to 45 days. This extension offers mothers additional, vital time to make a decision that can profoundly impact both the mothers and child’s life. The bill will now head to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

Property protection from unlawful occupants - In an effort to protect property rights for Tennesseans, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 292 on Tuesday. This bill allows a property owner to file a complaint with the county sheriff to quickly remove an unlawful occupant from their commercial property. Sponsored by Senator Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), the bill will go to the Senate Floor for final consideration. This bill provides sheriffs and courts the streamlined ability to restore possession of commercial property to its lawful owner when it is being unlawfully occupied.

Security enhancement in resort areas - To enhance safety for visitors at Tennessee resorts, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 790. Sponsored by Chairman Paul Bailey (R-Sparta), the proposed bill would require private deputies that are employed in resort areas to undergo the same post-certification training as law enforcement officers. This measure aims to improve security for both residents and tourists. Senate Bill 790 will now go to the Senate Floor for final consideration.

Expanding medication-assisted treatment in prisons and jails - The Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 421 this week. Sponsored by Chairman Shane Reeves (R-Murfreesboro), the bill allows healthcare providers in state prisons or local jails to offer medication-assisted treatment to incarcerated individuals with a drug addiction, as long as the provider has a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration and follows clinical guidelines. It also limits the number of patients and dosage, requires physician collaboration for chart reviews, and mandates entering prescriptions into the controlled substance monitoring database. The bill now moves to the Senate Floor for a final vote.

Just compensation for billboard removal - On Tuesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 735, sponsored by Senator Mark Pody (R-Lebanon). The bill ensures that sign or billboard owners receive fair compensation from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) in the event that their lawfully erected billboard must be removed. Senate Bill 735 will now proceed to the Finance Committee for fiscal review.

New public safety fund - In an effort to provide more resources for public safety, Senate Bill 547 was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Sponsored by Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), the legislation would allow counties to create a public safety fund for the district attorney general’s conference, much like the existing one for public defenders. Revenue for the fund would come from a $12.50 charge on felony and misdemeanor court cost bills. The fund would be used as an additional revenue stream for the district attorneys to carry out their work to prosecute criminals. Senate Bill 547 moves to the Senate Floor.

Strengthening aggravated DUI laws - The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved Senate Bill 457, a measure aimed at strengthening the prosecution of aggravated DUI offenses in Tennessee. Sponsored by Senator Paul Rose (R-Covington), the bill lowers the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) threshold for aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated vehicular homicide from 0.20 percent to 0.15 percent.

By reducing the BAC limit, this legislation enhances accountability for impaired drivers and reinforces the state’s commitment to public safety. Senate Bill 457 now moves to the Senate Floor for further consideration.